Chicago Area

Sheryl E. Fuhr, age 63, died on April 17, 2017 in her home in Berwyn, IL.

She was born in Bronx, New York to Donald and Miriam (Lepow) Fuhr and was the oldest of three children. Sheryl spent her childhood in New York City, Orlando, Florida, Syracuse, New York and Highland Park, Illinois. After graduating from high school Sheryl attended South Hampton College. She then moved to San Francisco and ultimately attended the Golden Gate University School of Law. While attending law school Sheryl also worked in the halfway house system with significant satisfaction.

Upon graduation from law school and passing the California bar exam, Sheryl decided to leave her beloved San Francisco and return to Chicago where she initially worked with other Attorneys before establishing her own law firm, Sheryl E. Fuhr & Associates, specializing in wills, trusts, estates, elder exploitation, probate, and guardianship litigation. Sheryl was gratified with her victory before the Illinois Supreme Court where the supreme court reversed an appellate court decision and affirmed a trial verdict in a guardianship proceeding after an extended trial.

Sheryl was preceded in death by her parents and remarkable canine Shimar. She is survived by her sister Robin Shue, brother Richard, sister-in-law Catherine, and nieces and nephews Jessica and Matthew Chiarizio, Jeremy and Jill Shue, Alexandra Fuhr and Audrey Fuhr. Sheryl will be remembered for her passion for the law, caring of others, long discussions on a variety of topics, strong opinions, and enjoyment of reading and card games.

Gensburg Calandriello & Kanter, P.C. announces the addition of Norman Berger as senior counsel, a transition that will strengthen the firm’s Commercial Litigation Practice Group and add a specialty in environmental law. Berger brings more than 30 years of experience to GCK’s boutique law practice.

A member of the firm’s commercial litigation practice, Berger has served as lead trial counsel in dozens of jury and bench trials across multiple jurisdictions and industries including real estate, retail, heavy manufacturing, chemicals, and recycling. He represents clients in state and federal courts nationwide and before state and federal agencies, as well as in arbitration and mediations. He has served as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association.

Berger will also advise clients on matters involving real estate, manufacturing, employment, environmental, class action, corporate, securities, closely held business, ERISA, and insurance issues. He has in-depth experience with complicated technical and regulatory issues and with matters involving scientific and other technical experts. He will counsel clients on insurance coverage, permitting, enforcement and administrative matters.

Berger serves as a member and past chairman of the Dean’s Advisory Council at DePaul University College of Law, as a faculty member of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, and a founding participant in the Pro Bono Committee for Representation of Indigent Defendants. In 2013, Berger won the Outstanding Service to DePaul University Award.

Justice Mary Jane Theis and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of David Navarro as a Cook County Circuit Judge in the 4th Subcircuit.

Mr. Navarro was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Thomas Davy.

The appointment takes effect May 25, 2017, and will conclude on Dec. 3, 2018, when the position will be filled by the 2018 General Election.

"I am grateful to Justice Theis and the Supreme Court for this appointment," Navarro said. "I am honored to have this opportunity and look forward to serving the people of Cook County."

Mr. Navarro has served as the Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau for the Office of the Illinois Attorney General since 2009, and previously served in the Cook County State's Attorney's Office as an Assistant State's Attorney and Supervisor of the Professional Standards Unit.

Justice Theis recommended Mr. Navarro's appointment after candidates were reviewed by bar associations and a special judicial screening committee. Mr. Navarro received qualified or recommended ratings from a dozen bar groups. The special judicial screening committee was established by Justice Theis in 2013 and is co-chaired by retired U.S. District Court Judge Wayne R. Andersen and retired Illinois Appellate Court Judge Michael J. Gallagher.

Mr. Navarro earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chicago and his juris doctor from the University of Iowa College of Law.

Justice Mary Jane Theis and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Debra A. Seaton as a Cook County Circuit Judge in the 2nd Subcircuit.

Ms. Seaton was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Camille Willis.

The appointment takes effect May 18, 2017 and will conclude on Dec. 3, 2018, when the position will be filled by the 2018 General Election.

"After practicing law for many years, I am humbled and honored to be appointed to one of the most esteemed positions in the legal profession: the office of Judge," Seaton said. "I thank Justice Theis and the other members of the Illinois Supreme Court for providing this wonderful opportunity to serve."

Ms. Seaton has been an Attorney Supervisor for the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender since 2010. She worked as a solo practitioner for 10 years and previously served as an Assistant Public Defender for Kane and Cook counties for 13 years.

Justice Theis recommended Ms. Seaton's appointment after candidates were reviewed by bar associations and a special judicial screening committee.

Ms. Seaton received qualified or recommended ratings from a dozen bar groups. The special judicial screening committee was established by Justice Theis in 2013 and is co-chaired by retired U.S. District Court Judge Wayne R. Andersen and retired Illinois Appellate Court Judge Michael J. Gallagher.

Ms. Seaton earned her Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Iowa and her juris doctor from the University of Iowa College of Law.

Gensburg Calandriello & Kanter, P.C. announces the addition of Thomas V. Canepa as senior counsel in a move that strengthens the firm’s tax exempt and nonprofit, real estate, sports and entertainment, intellectual property, and venture & emerging companies practices. Canepa brings more than 25 years of experience to GCK’s boutique law practice.

The addition of Canepa’s career-long achievements and breadth of experience in the areas of corporate, business, M&A, technology and new business start-ups, joint ventures, real estate, and tax law continues GKC’s recent growth to better serve client needs.

As a trusted outside general counsel, problem-solver and client advocate, Tom guides and advises business owners, entrepreneurs, management and corporate officers, directors and shareholder/members. The scope of his counsel includes the areas of business, corporate, transaction and finance matters incorporating strategy, entity management, commercial and venture funding, tax planning, intellectual property and trade secret protection, and real estate matters. Canepa also brings a unique international perspective and experience to his work on behalf of churches, foundations, not-for-profit entities, and other strategic initiatives for his clients in Asia, Europe, and Central Asia.

Don’t miss ISBA’s final installment of the Family Law Table Clinic Series! Join us in Chicago on May 18, 2017 as our speakers offer informal table top presentations on a number of key family law topics, including how to understand financial statements, personal returns, operating agreements, and LLC returns; proving marital and non-marital characterization; maintenance issues; property division; issues with pension and retirement asset division; and more. This interactive innovative CLE format gives you ample opportunity to ask questions, clarify issues, and discuss concerns with faculty members at the end of each presentation. Attendees move from table to table throughout the day, gaining the perspective of both experienced and newer attorney speakers throughout each 30 minute table clinic. The series is open to all levels of practice experience, but designed with attorneys new to family law (or who need a refresher) in mind.

The program is presented by the ISBA Family Law Section and qualifies for 6.0 hours MCLE credit.

Learn how outpatient mental health commitment orders are being developed and implemented in Cook County and around Illinois with this informative half-day seminar in Chicago or via live webcast on May 17, 2017. Discover how to get a person the mental health treatment they need in the community, while gaining the perspective of both the mental health provider and the patient regarding outpatient mental health commitments.

The program is presented by the ISBA Mental Health Law Section and qualifies for 3.0 hours MCLE credit.

A memorial celebrating the life of Willis R. (“Bill”) Tribler, a founding member and senior partner of the law firm of Tribler Orpett & Meyer, P.C., will be held on May 17, 2017, between 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Preston Bradley Hall of the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 East Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602. The event is open to the public and all are invited to attend.

The memorial is being sponsored by Tribler Orpett & Meyer and the Illinois State Bar Association, the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, and the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel. Representatives of those organizations, as well as other prominent judges, lawyers and committee members who worked with Bill throughout his career, will be speaking and sharing their personal thoughts and stories about him. Among those scheduled to appear are Hon. Justice Bill Taylor (Ret.), Hon. Russell W. Hartigan, ISBA President Elect, Charles Bingaman, former and current Executive Directors of IICLE, Michael L. Resis, IDC President-Elect and Rudy G. Schade and Robert V. Dewey, past presidents of IDC, and Wendy J. Muchman, Chief of Litigation and Professional Education of the ARDC.

Kane County divorce attorney and founding partner of Goostree Law Group, P.C., Tricia D. Goostree, has been recognized as a two-time recipient of the "10 Best" Client Satisfaction Award by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys (AIOFLA) for 2016 and 2017. As a Two Years AIOFLA Member, Goostree is among a prestigious list of attorneys who have achieved significant success in the field of family law.

St. Charles divorce lawyer Tricia D. Goostree has been practicing exclusively in family law and domestic relations since 2002. For over 15 years, she has assisted Northern Illinois clients with complex financial cases, spousal maintenance, child custody (or the allocation of parental responsibilities), child support, visitation (or parenting time), and much more.

Goostree is the recipient of many other prestigious awards, including Illinois Super Lawyers, Leading Lawyers, and Lawyers of Distinction. She is active in her local legal community maintaining memberships with the Illinois Bar Association, Kane County Bar Association ,and DuPage County Bar Association.

As a two-year "10 Best" AIOFLA award winner, Tricia D. Goostree exemplifies what it is to be a top, client-oriented legal professional.

Perfect your trial practice skills with this full-day seminar that not only walks you through each step of the trial process, but also shows you how technology can help you flawlessly deliver your case to the courtroom. Trial attorneys with intermediate practice experience who attend this seminar in Chicago or via live webcast on May 12, 2017 will learn: how to get rid of biased jurors during voir dire; the importance of a well-told opening statement; how to prepare your next witness for direct examination; how to question lay and expert witnesses during cross examination; which high-tech tools can help you present your next big case; the value of demonstrative exhibits and technology to engage your jury; how to prepare a powerful and persuasive closing argument; what attorneys have done right (and wrong) in trial as experienced by one retired judge; and the common incidents that lead to malpractice.

The program is presented by the ISBA Civil Practice and Procedure Section and qualifies for 7.0 hours MCLE credit, including 7.0 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit(subject to approval).